Illuminating device



Sept. 25, l1934. R.- E. BARCLAY l ILLUMINATLNG DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1930 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Sept. 25, 1934- R. E. BARcL-AY ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 27. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y j// MFA/TOR: 75255527 EBA/remy 155/ Cw( )WEI/@jm Patented Sept. '2.5, 1934 '1,914,888 nLUmNAmG nlzvlcr:

Application October 27, 1930, Serial No. 491,404- 9 claim. (ci. 11s-'14).

UNITED STATES PATENToFr-ICE My invention relates in general to gaseous vconduction devices and has more particular reference to gaseous conduction lamps adapted for use Y in illumination, the general object of the invention being to provide a gaseous conduction device of increased eiciency and which may be fabriv cated in the form of a lamp having wide utility because of its capacity to producenovel, eyearresting,v and attractive eiects.

10 An important object is to incorporate reactive means, namely means to provide capacity reactive effects, in a device of the character mentioned whereby its operating eiliciency is improved, a further object being to apply the eiects v of capacity reactance in a gaseous conduction device by arranging the discharge channel of the device with adjacent portions separated by dielectric means affording a condenser having electrostatic effect upon the gaseous conduction medium .20 Within the discharge channels whereby to improve Vthe operating eilici'ency of the lamp and permit the same to function at relatively low voltage.

, Another important object is'to provide a lamp 25 of the character described having spaced elec- ,trodes co-operatively associated with the discharge channel for the purpose of exciting the gaseous conducting medium therein wherein the electrodes are located in relatively closely spaced relationship whereby a unit adapted for detach.- able insertion in a power outlet socket is provided.

Still another important object of the invention resides in providing a device of the character described wherein the overall size of the unit' is reduced while the eective length. of the discharge channel is maintained, whereby, among other novel and advantageous results, I am able to provide a compact lamp adapted for use as a 40 unit in a socket' receptaclel l Still another important object is to provide a gaseous conduction device of increased efllciency, a further object being to forni the lamp with adjacently extending discharge channel portions whereby electrical discharges through the conduction medium in one channel portion may be utilized to promote the ionization of and thus facilitate the establishment of electrical discharges in the medium contained in an adjacent discharge channel portion.

Still another object of my invention is to utilize a. partitioned tube as an envelope deiining adjacent discharge channel portions in a gaseous conduction device, whereby the device may be ar- 55 ranged to produce novel-results and effects, in-

cludingV a travelingor flickering light effect, a multi-color eil'ect including the possibility of causing 4the device to change color; and including the possibility'of producing a lamp for low voltage operation and adapted Afor detachable' mounting in a power outlet socket.

Another important object is to provide va sec--l tionalized lamp comprising a plurality of elements of standard length having connections whereby the units may be arranged in series-for operation from a power outlet in the form cfa support socket, a further object being to provide an adapter base containing atransformer whereby to operate the lamp from a-low voltage socket outlet. r l

Among other objectso! the invention are .to provide a novel method ofv discharge illumination whereby to increase the 'operating eflciency of this type of lighting without sacricing the brilliance of the illumination; to produce a discharge lamp, which can be illuminatedfrom the ordinary house lighting circuit; and, in general, to accomplish the numerous valuable advances in the technique of electrical illumination which will become apparent as the invention is more 80. clearly understood from the following description which, taken with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a double channel member embodying .my invention;

Figure 2 is a cross section through' the tube shown in Figure 1,; .A

Figure 3 is a vertical section through` a luminescent element or lamp adapted vfor operation from a llow voltage power outlet, the lamp comprising tubing of the style shown in Figs. 1 and 2" and being provided with a temporary bombarding electrode for bombarding the element in a novel manner during its manufacture in order to remove impurities from the electrodes and tube, prior to introducing the gaseous contents;

A Figure 4 is a vertical section through the lamp shown in Figure 3' after the temporary bombard- 100 ing electrode is removed;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a luminescent element embodying longitudinally ex tending partition means deiining a plurality of separate channels within the envelope in accordance with my invention whereby multi-color and travelling light effectsmay be accomplished;

Figure 6 is a perspective view partially in section of a modied form of the device shown in Figure 5; 110

transformer so that number of sections in series with one power outlet may be easily accommodated by simply supplying a base having the correct transformer base;

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the intermediate connections in the sectional lighting element of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the use of a single section as a lighting unit; and

Figure 12 is-a vertical section through the connection at the top of the device shown in Figure 11.

The lamps are formed preferably of 4glass tubing 11 provided with longitudinally extending partition means 13 dividing the tube into a plurality of parallel channels 15. The partitioned member 11 maybe made from standard glass tubing by inserting a partition into the tube and fusing its edges to the walls of the tube at 17, as by means of heat, or the partitioned member may be molded with an integral partition in a mold provided with suitable removable cores for forming the parallel channels in the finished product.

Figures-3 and 4 illustrate a high emciency discharge lamp embodying my present invention and operable from a low voltage source of electrical power.

The lamp consists o'f a body 19 comprising a doublechannel tube, the upper end of which is provided with a dome 21 which closes and forms a connection between the upper ends of the channels.' 'The lower end of each channel of the pair is sealed in the usual manner and provided with an electrode 23 having a connectionvextending out of the tube to permit discharge producing power to be applied between the electrodes. The lower end of the tube may be set in a base 25 of any usual or preferred construction whereby the vlamp may be connected in' a power outlet socket, the base having terminals 27 adapted to engage and form connections with the terminals of the outlet socket. If the lamp-is to be used in a high voltage circuit, that is to say, a circuit providing electricity at suiliciently high voltage to set up and maintain the discharge in the lamp, the terminals 27 may be directly connected with the outlet connections from the lamp electrodes 23, it being understood that the terminals 27 must be sufficiently widely spaced in the base to prevent arcing therebetween. However, I propose to operate the lamp from a low voltage source of electrical power and therefore the lamp is preferablyV provided with a small transformer having a suitable ratio, which transformer 29 is ends of its primary winding connected to the terminals 27, while the opposite ends of the secondary winding of 'the transformer are connected with the electrodes 23. The transformer 29 of course may be formed in any suitable or convenient manner, but I prefer to form the transformer as a' socalled pancake coil device,

wherein the primary. and secondary windings are arranged in the form -of at interwoven coils which occupy a minimum of space in the socket base. Of course, the exact ratio of the transformer 29 will depend upon the available voltage in the house wiring circuit, and the dimensions of the discharge channel 31 provided in the lamp, itv being understood that the voltage necessarily applied between the terminals 23 to produce a desired brilliance in lamps of this general character has a denite ratio which varies in accordance with the length and cross sectional area of the discharge channel so that the size of the discharge path: provided in the lamp and the voltage of the power supply will determine the ratio of the transformer 29.

The parallel channels 15, as aforesaid, are connected at their upper ends bythe dome shaped portion 21 and form an inverted U-shaped channel. During the manufacture of devices of this general character, it is necessary to bombard the channel and the electrodes 23 by passing a high voltage current through the tube between the electrodes, in order to remove the impurities therein.

In my present invention bombardment may be accomplished by inserting a bombarding electrode 33 in the upper end of the dome 21, which is preferably provided with an enlarged socket 35 for the purpose of actuating the bombarding electrode. The discharge channel 31 is then' subjected to the action of an exhaust pump, in order to create a partial vacuum therein and high tension electrical currents are passed through the arms of the channel between the electrode 33 and the electrodes 23. These currents are maintained until the electrodes 23 are heated just short of the melting point. This causes the impurities in the electrode and also such impurities as may be clinging to the inner side walls of the channel 31, to be dislodged. After the bombarding current has been maintained for a suflcient length of time, the channel 33 may be flushed with dry air, in order to remove the irn- -purities and the bombarding process repeated until the channel 31 and the electrodes are thoroughly purified. The channel 31 is then lled with a suitable gas, such as neon, argon, mercury vapor, etc., for the purpose of providing an ionized path `for the discharge created between the electrodes 23 and through the channel 31. The channel may be conveniently lled with gas throughv an opening formed in the top of the dome 21 and after the tube has been bombarded and filled, the electrode 33 and the opening through which the gas is introduced'into the channel 31 may be removed and the openings sealed off to form a rounded point 37, as is well known in the glass blowing art,.to form a sightly finish for the element. The nished lamp is shown in Figure 4 and in shape is similar to the erated in discharge elements of the type herein= before provided. I believe this can; be partially explained bythe fact that the parallel and 1 adjacent discharge channels separated by the partition 13 conserve the heat generated by the passage of the discharge through the channel 31 and apply the conserved'heat in promoting the ionization of the gaseousv discharge path. In

other words a part of the heat generated by the discharge in both legs of the channel 31 is transferredto the partition 13 which is heated and which in turn gives back theI heat to the adjacent legs of the discharge path. The element,` therefore, in and -of itself .heats the discharge path to a g'reatenextent than devices heretofore provided.` Apparently, the heating of the gases promotes ionization so, that the discharge is maintained more easily through the more fully ionized path with the result that less power is required to maintain the discharge at a' given brilliance and my invention contemplates the promotion of eiiiciency in dischar'ge illumination `by heating the discharge path. y Y

'l'his heating of course` may be accomplished by any suitable means, but in the .devices partic- -ularly illustrated herein, the heating of the discharge paths is accomplished by arranging the paths adjacently in a single element, the paths cent path through the intervening partition..

A more important reason why the illustrated invention promotes the operating efficiency resides in the fact thatv the partition forms a condenser betweefrthe legs of the discharge channel, which applies a reactive capacity effect upon the discharge channel and improves the power factor of the device. As a result of the improvement in power factor, I have found that .the current density in the discharge channel during operation is much greater than the current density in `a straight channel of equivalent length and bore. Furthermore, I have found that the current density in the channels of the multi-channel lamp during operation is larger at points remote from the electrodes at which the actuating power is applied. This is caused, I think, by the reactive effect provided by the ,partition acting as f a condenser throughout the length of the discharge device. The increased current density moreover, when the device is used for a lamp,

produces increased luminosity.. Devices embody- Another feature of advantage residing in the.

constructionv hereinbefore set forth is the production of a relatively wide luminous object without increasing lthe power consumption required for the illumination. ,The power necessaryto a discharge through a given path varies ap'- Aproifiimately as the square of the cross sectional area of the path. The luminous effect produced.

by the device of my invention, however, extends throughout the diametenof the tube 11, the par# tition 13 being practically indiscernible when the lamp is illuminated. Especially when the lampis viewed from a direction normal to the plane of the partition 13, the partition is indiscernible.

'12 I have therefore provided a lamp producing a wide streak of light'with a power consumption substantially less than that required to produce an equivalent streak with lamps of the type here- .tofore provided. This advantage of course is in addition to the several other advantages apparent in my lamp and which include the advantages flowing from the provision of the lamp mercury vapor to produce a blue light.

capable of operationfrom a low voltage circuit, a

lamp operable from a socket .as is the common incandescent lamp and the advantages owing from the economy provided byheating the discharge path and applying capacity reactance in order to promote operating efliciency.

I n Figures 5,-6 and 7 of the drawings Ivhavev `illustrated the use of a multi-channel tube for several channels of the tube as illustrated in Figures'5, 6 and?, the luminescent element consists of a tube 4l .provided with longitudinally extending partition means dividing the tube into a plurality of parallel and adjacent channels 43. The ends of each channel are sealed off and provided with electrodes 45 so that each channel provides a separatedischarge path.-V The ends' of the tube 41 also may-be provided with sockets 47 whereby the electrodes 45 may be connected in suitable electrical circuits.

The luminescent element'construction just described may be employed in producing a number of highly attractive and useful effects. vIf the element is made with two channels .43, the two channels may be filled with gases capable of creating light therein of different colors. For instance, one channel maybe' filled with neon gas toproduce therein a red light, while the adjacent channel may be lled with neon and The luminescent element may then be connected through suitable switching apparatus to a source of electrical power so that the channels-may be lighted alternately. When such a. luminescent element is viewed lfrom a direction normal to the plane of the partition the element alternately flashes red and then blue light throughout its entire vwidth andl it -is impossible to perceive any shifting of the path. l

Still another multi-color effect which can be obtained with lamps of this general character is produced by twisting the partition so that the channels 43 extend helically around each other in the unit as shown in Figure 6. The unit may be made withA either two or more twisted channels and a 4multi-color barber pole effect created. Obviously a traveling light effect may be produced in the form having twisted channels by exciting the channels alternately as hereinafter mentioned in connection. with the form shown in Figure 7. v

In Figure '7 of the drawings I have illustrated the possibility of employing an element of the type -described to create a travelling light effect. 'Ihis effect may be produced with a unitghaving two or more channels, although in the drawings I have illustrated the accomplishment of the effect within a unit having two discharge channels. The travelling effect is accomplished by dividing the outer surface of the tube 41 into preferably equal sections by lines of demarcation 49 and by painting out alternate sections of the channels 43 by applying black paint or other suitable pigment which will not pass the coloredstreak of light moving as indicated in the spiral line 53 will be created as 'an optical illusion.

Alternate or successive excitation oi the gaseous medium in the several channels may be accomvplished by means of a flasher 87l comprising a wheel of conducting material connected by means of a ybrush contact to one side of the secondary 89 of A'a transformer 91, the primary 93 is connected Aas bymeans of the switch 95 with a suitable power source. The other side of the secondary is or may be connected to the terminals 27 of the electrodes 45 disposed at one end of the lamp unit. The conducting wheel of the asher may be selectively .or alternately connected through brush contacts 97 and 99 with the several terminals connecting the electrodes 45 at hthe ends of the channels opposite from the electrodes which are connected with the transformer secondary 89. The brushes 97 and 99 bear upon the circular periphery of the wheel, which carries an insulating strip 101 so that the brushes alternately engage the conducting portion of the wall and are insulated therefrom at intervals during the rotation of the wheel. While the brushes are in electrical contact with theconducting portions of the wheel, the channels, with which the brushes are electrically connected, will be excited and while the brushes engage the insulating strip 101, excitation of the channels will be prevented. By disposing the brushes 97 and 99 at suitable intervals, the channels associated therewith may be alternately and successively excited. In these parallel channel forms, as

well as in the candle form shown in Figures 3 and 4, the operating eiiiciency of the device is improved it is thought by the capacity eilect of the integral partition 13, and the heat conserving eiect of having the channels separated by an integral partition.'

In Figures 8-12, I have shown how the device of my invention may be standardized so as to operate lamps of diierent size from a single socket. Standardization is accomplished by providing a unit element comprising partitioned member 55 to provide adjacent discharge channels 57 with opposed ends sealed.and having suitable electrodes 59 in their ends. The upper andlower ends of the elements are preferably secured in housing sockets 61 of any suitable or convenient configuration, but preferably cup-shaped as illustrated, the sockets at the lower 'end being provided with terminals 63 while those at the upper end have terminals 65 formed to co-operate with the terminals 63 and form an electric connection therewith.V The terminals may,be of any Asuitable size, shape and conguration but preferably are as shown in the drawings, i. e., the terminals 63 comprise prongs while terminals 65 comprise sockets adapted to receive prongs to make a detachable electric connection therewith.

t The electrodes 59 are each connected with a corresponding pronged or hollow terminal 63 or 65 and the ends of the members 55 are secured in place in the cup-shapedy socket members with suitable cement material 67.

With a number of such standardized elements, a luminous sectional element such as shown in Figure `8 may be assembled by simply arranging the elements in end to end relation with the abutting ends interconnected as shown in Figure 10 whereas the lower terminals 63 of an upper section are engaged by the terminals 65 of a lower section.

In order to operate a sectional light of the sort shown in Figure 8 from a standard or constant voltage power outlet, I provide an'adapter socket 67 as shown in Figure 9. This adapter consists of a housing 77 provided with a pair of pronged or other suitable lower terminals 71 adapted to form 'section `of the assembled lighting element. Any

number of sections may be employed in the sectional element, the transformer 73 in thet adapter base as the proper ratio to supply power at the necessary high voltage to operate the sectional lighting element, it being understood that the longer the path through which a discharge takes place the higher must be the voltage applied to the ultimate terminals.

In Figure 11 and Figure 12, I have shown a connector` cap 79 for use in connecting the upper electrodes 59 of a standard section when it is desired to use the section alone to provide a light unit operated from a power outlet. The cap 79 merely consists of a base supporting downwardly extending terminals 81 electrically connected by the conductor 83 and supported in position to engage the upper terminals 65 of the section. The cap may be provided with aknob 85 to facilitate manipulation and improve appearance.

In Figure 8, I have shown 'the uppermost sec- -tion as comprising an element similar to the one shown in Figure 4, but it is obvious that the standard section with the cap as shown in Figure 11 could equally well be utilized.

The capacity effect of the partition means is particularly'important in the sectional lamp arrangements shown in Figures 8-12, since the eiliciency promoting reactive effect increases withthe length of the discharge column so'that length,

which in prior devices is of no advantage in the promotion of eiilciency, becomes a virtue in lamps embodying my present invention.

I do not claim herein the multi-channelled tubing shown in Figures 1 and 2, nor the method of 120 making it since the same form the subject matter of my co-pending application Serial No. 555,244, led August 5, 1931, now Patent No. 1,904,348, issued April 18th, 1933; nor do I claim herein the modiilcations shown in Figures 3 and 4, save in the combination illustrated in Figure 8, since the same form the subject matter of my co-pending application Ser. No. 541,390 filed June 1st, 1931, now Patent No. 1,963,961.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of Iits attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form,

`construction and arrangement of the several 1.- A discharge illuminating element comprising translucent means forming adjacent discharge channelsl extending longitudinally in the element, means rendering portions of said adjacent channels-substantially opaque at staggered intervals therealong and means for discharging electricity through the adjacent channels in succession, whereby a travelling light effect may be created.

2. A discharge illuminating device comprising cent longitudinally extending discharge channels,r

a gas glow medium in each channel, said channels each having spaced light transmitting portions capable of transmitting sensible light-to an observer, said light transmitting portions of the several channels being relatively staggered, and means comprising electrodes for exciting the media in said channels successively.

3. A discharge illuminating device comprising a translucent envelope having a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending discharge channels, a gas glow medium in each channel adapted, when excited, to emit light of a desired color characteristic different from the color of the light emitted by the glowmedium in another of said channels when electrically excited, said channels each having spaced light transmitting portions capable of transmitting sensible light to an observer, said light transmittingportions of the several channels being Yrelatively staggered, and means comprising electrodes for exciting the media in said channels successively.

LA discharge illuminating device comprising a translucent envelope having a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending channels containing -a gas glow medium, said channels being '-in relatively helically twisted relationship, and

tricallv excited, to emit light of a color characteristic diierent from that emitted by the gaseous medium in another of said discharge channels when excited.

6. A discharge illuminating element comprising an. integral translucent envelope having a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending discharge channels containing each a gas glow medium adapted when electrically excited to emit light having'a color characteristic different from that of the light emitted by the gas glow medium in another of said channels, said channels being in relatively helically twisted relationship', and

velectrode means to electrically excite the medium in the several channels.

-7. A sectional lamp comprising' a plurality of elements electrically connected together in end to end relationship, said elements comprisingeach a tubular element of translucent material having' glow and spaced electrodes for electrically exciting,

the gaseous atmosphere in eachchannel, means to detachably electrically connect one of the elec- Y trodes of each channel with an electrode` of the Achannel of an adjacent section element whereby corresponding channels of adjacent section elements may be electrically connected together in series and electrical connector means operably associated with the free electrodes of the end most sections of the series whereby to connect the series with a source of electricalpower.

8. A sectional lamp comprising a plurality of A elements electrically connected together in end to end relationship, said elements comprising each'a tubular element of translucent material having longitudinally extending partition means dividing the member into a plurality of adjacent longitudinally extending channels, sealing means at the opposite endsA of the tubular member for sealing the channels thereof, a gaseous atmosphere in each channel, electrodes for electrically exciting the gaseous atmosphere in each channel, means 4to detachably electrically connect one of the elecenvelope formed to provide a sealed U-shaped channel having arms separated by integral partsof the envelope vforming a partition between said arms, said U-shaped channel containing a gase;` ous atmosphere adapted to be electrically excited to glow and an electrode in the extremity of each .arm of the U-shaped channel, and means to electrically connect said electrode with the free elec' trodes of the end-most section of the series, and no means to connect the free electrodes of thefsection at the opposite end of 'the series in an external electrical circuit.

9. A sectional lamp consisting of a plurality of elements electrically connected together in end to end relationship, said elements comprising eachva tubular element of translucent material 'having longitudinally extending partition means dividing the member into a plurality of adjacent lon-- gitudinally extending channels, sealing means at the opposite ends of the tubular member for sealing the channels thereof, a gaseous atmosphere in each channel to beelectrically excited to glow, and spaced electrodes for electrically exciting the gaseous atmosphere in each channel, means tov detachably electrically connect one of the electrodes of each channel with an electrode of the channel of an adjacent section element whereby4 corresponding channels of adjacent section elements may be electrically connected together, and means to electrically `excite the gaseous atmosphere in said adjacent channels whereby the,

reactive effect provided by the partition means,

acting as a condenser between the adjacent channels may improve the operating emclency of the device.

- ROBERT E. BARCLAY.- 

